Integrin-specific hydrogels for growth factor-free vasculogenesis

Autor: Helena R. Moreira, Daniel B. Rodrigues, Sara Freitas-Ribeiro, Lucília P. da Silva, Alain da S. Morais, Mariana Jarnalo, Ricardo Horta, Rui L. Reis, Rogério P. Pirraco, Alexandra P. Marques
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: npj Regenerative Medicine, Vol 7, Iss 1, Pp 1-13 (2022)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2057-3995
94348154
DOI: 10.1038/s41536-022-00253-4
Popis: Abstract Integrin-binding biomaterials have been extensively evaluated for their capacity to enable de novo formation of capillary-like structures/vessels, ultimately supporting neovascularization in vivo. Yet, the role of integrins as vascular initiators in engineered materials is still not well understood. Here, we show that αvβ3 integrin-specific 3D matrices were able to retain PECAM1+ cells from the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of adipose tissue, triggering vasculogenesis in vitro in the absence of extrinsic growth factors. Our results suggest that αvβ3-RGD-driven signaling in the formation of capillary-like structures prevents the activation of the caspase 8 pathway and activates the FAK/paxillin pathway, both responsible for endothelial cells (ECs) survival and migration. We also show that prevascularized αvβ3 integrin-specific constructs inosculate with the host vascular system fostering in vivo neovascularization. Overall, this work demonstrates the ability of the biomaterial to trigger vasculogenesis in an integrin-specific manner, by activating essential pathways for EC survival and migration within a self-regulatory growth factor microenvironment. This strategy represents an improvement to current vascularization routes for Tissue Engineering constructs, potentially enhancing their clinical applicability.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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